Beet-cutter.



J. SAILER.

BEET cums.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-5,1916- Patented June 19, 1917.

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J. SAILER.

BEET CUTTER. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5, I916.

Patented June 19, 1917.

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JOSEPH SAILEB, or OXNARD, CALIFORNIA.

BEECH-CUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 19, 1917.

Application filed September 5, 1916. Serial No. 118,578.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, J osnrH SAlLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oxnard, in the county of Ventura and State of California, have invented a new and useful Beet-Cutter, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the art of manufacturing beet sugar, and particularly to the beet cutter used to cut up the beets dur ing such manufacture. Such beet cutters are common in the art and ordinarily consist of an 'inclosing chamber into which the beets are forced. The outer wall of this chamber consists of a series of fiat knives arranged around the periphery of a cylinder and rotated by suitable power. The beets as dumped into the machine contain considerable tough or woody fiber and foreign matter which catches onthe cutting edges of the knives and greatly reduces'their cutting efficiency.

The principal object of the invention is to provide such a beet cutter with means for removing this fiber from the knives without shutting down the machine. This is accomplished by providing a cylindrical brush which rotates at a higher peripheral speed than the knives and therefore when pressed against the knives removes the fiber therefrom. As the accumulation of fiber is slow, a further object of the invention is to provide means for so carrying the brush that it is normally out of action, but can be thrown into action whenever desired.

Further objects and advantages will be evident hereinafter.-

Ref'erring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, on a plane represented by the line af.t' of Fig. 2.

i Fig. 2 is a view, partly in section, on a plane represented by the line a2 m of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial side elevation of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2.

In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings, 11 is a base upon which is secured a pillow block 12. Secured on the base 11 is a stationary end plate 13 having a bearing 14 formed thereon. Turning in the bearing 14 and the pillow block 12 is a cutting knife shaft 15, this shaft being driven by any suitable power means not shown. Rigidly secured to the shaft 15 is a rotatlng end plate 16. A knife carrier 17 is secured by means of a ring 18, the knife carrier extending across and forming a fairly tight joint with a rim 19 cast on the stationary end plate 13. The knife carrier 17 has a series of knives 20 secured thereon, openings 21 beingleft between the knives all around the cylinder. A hopper 22 is secured to the stationaryend plate 13 and is so shaped that beets which are dumped therein are forced into the beet receiving chamber which is formed between the end plates 13 and 16 inside the knives 20.

Rigidly secured to the stationary end plate 13 and extending completely across the beet receiving chamber 23 is an involute casting 24:, this casting having a portion 25 which is nearly radial and having an arcuate portion 26 which is eccentric with relation to the cutting knives 20, narrowing the beet receiv ing chamber 23 down to a throat 27. A The throat 27 communicates with a waste chamber 28 which'is formed in the involute casting 24, access to this chamber 28 being given through a waste door 29 secured over an opening in the end plate 13. Theinvolute casting 24 divides the interior ofthe beet cutter into the beet receiving chamber 23 and into a brush cavity 30,the involute casting 24: extending completely across the in terior of the beet cutter so that no beets can enter the cavity 30. A brush bearing cylinder 33 is secured so that it can turn freely in a plate 3 1 secured to the stationary end plate 13 and in a bearing plate 35-secured to the outer edge of the hopper 22.

Ecc'entrically located in suitable bearings inside thecylinder 33 is a brush shaft 36, this brush shaft extending into the interior of the brush cavity 30, and carrying a cylindrical brush 3? thereon. A handle 38 serves to rotate the cylinder" 33. Tight and loose pulleys 39 and 40 on the brush shaft 36 are engaged by a suitable belt 411, driven from a driving pulley 42 carried on the shaft 15. A spring stop 43 is provided for looking the cylinder 33 in various angular posi tions. I

The method of operation is as follows: Beets being dumped into the hopper 22 are forced through an opening in the stationary end plate 13 into the beet receiving chamber 23, being forced around in the di rection of the arrow 50 shown in Fig. 2 by the action of the knives 20 which rotate in this direction.- The movement of the beets in this direction is resisted due to their packing between the involute casting 24.- and the knives, but there is a gradual working around of the beets in the direction of the arrow 50. A portion of the beets, and any other material which is carried therein, is finally forced into the waste chamber 28 from which it may be withdrawn from time to time through the door 29.

During the cutting period, small particles of woody fiber and foreign matter are caught by the knives 20, adhering to the cutting edges and rendering them more or less inoperative and closing the openings 21 between the knives. The brush 27 is normally out of contact with the knives and the belt 11 is slack. l/Vhenever it is desired to clean the knives the operator presses down upon the handle 38 in the direction of the arrow 51, thereby throwing the cylinder 33 around and moving the shaft 36, which is eccentrically located. in this cylinder, into such a position that the brush 37 contacts with the knives 20. The relation of the pulleys 42 and 40 is such that the brush 37 is driven at a higher peripheralspeed than the knives, the bristles of the brush swishing across the knives and removing the woody fiber therefrom. This woody fiber is thrown down into the bottom of the brush cavity and may be finally removed through a waste door 53 which covers a suitable opening in the side of the stationary end plate 13.

It is not necessary that the brush 37 be constantly in contact with the knives, and I find that there is much less wear on the brushes where they are only used occasionally.

The general construction. of beet cutters illustrated above is common in the art, and various details of construction, such as the method of fastening the knives, etc., have been omitted.

The knives 20 are inclosed in an outer shell 5% having a suitable door 55 therein, this shell 5st being secured to the stationary end plate 13 and projecting over and being secured to a ring 56 which forms a tight closure with the ring 18. Cuttings from the beets are thrown into the space inside the outer shell 54: and drop through the base 11. into a suitable receiving vessel not shown.

I claim as my invention 1. In a beet cutter; a stationary structure forming a beet receiving chamber; a series of rotating knives so placed as to cut the beets in said chamber; a knife rotating shaft; means for securing said knives to said knife rotating shaft; an involute casting located in said chamber having a brush cavity formed therein adjacent to said knives; a brush in. said cavity; and means by which an operator can force said brush against said knives for the purpose of cleansing said knives.

2. In a beet cutter; a stationary structure.

forming a beet receiving chamber; a series of rotating knives so placed as to cut the beets in said chamber; a knife rotating shaft; means for securing said knives to said knife rotating shaft; an involute casting located in said chamber having a brush cavity formed therein adjacent to said knives; a cylindrical brush so mounted that an operator can force it against said knives; and means for rotating said brush to cleanse said knives.

3. In a beet cutter; a stationary structure forming a beet receiving chamber; a series of rotating knives so placed as to cut the beets in said chamber; a knife rotating shaft; means for securing said knives to said knife rotating shaft; an involute casting located in said chamber having a brush cavity formed therein adjacent to said knives; a cylindrical brush so mounted that an operator can force it against said knives; and means for rotating said brush to cleanse said knives.

4. In a beet cutter; a series of rotating knives arranged around the periphery of a cylinder in which the beets to be out are placed; a cylindrical brush located inside said knives in such a position as to contact with them; means for rotating said brush at a faster peripheral speed and in the same direction as said knives; means for protecting said brush from said beets; and means by which an operator can force said rotating brush against said knives.

5. In a beet cutter; a stationary structure forming a beet receiving chamber; a series of rotating knives so placed as to out the beets in said chamber; a knife rotating shaft; means for securing said knives to said knife rotating shaft; an involute casting located in said chamber having a brush cavity formed therein adjacent to said knives; a cylindrical brush so mounted that an operator can force it against said knives; and power transmitting means for rotating said brush to cleanse said knives, said power transmitting means being inoperative when said brush is out of contact with said knives.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Oxnard, California, this 25th day of August, 1916.

JOSEPH SAILER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

